One might be surprised to know Sandusky, Ohio, best known as the home of internationally-recognized roller coaster capital of the world, Cedar Point Amusement Park, also contains a little jewel of a cemetery called Oakland.

At its inception in 1850, the grounds consisted of 107 acres and, of these, 24 were intended for a “poor house,” 35 were to be offered for sale and the remaining 48 utilized for burials. As the beauty of the cemetery was realized, it became an increasingly-popular site for burials and picnics and, before long, the grounds expanded to include the current 134 acres.

During the cemetery’s earliest days, a journalist for the Sandusky Clarion wrote these words in praise of the fledgling burial ground:

Those of our citizens who have not taken a trip to the new cemetery ground on Pipe Creek, will regret when once there, that they have so long remained ignorant of so lovely a place. It is the remark of every one that he is surprised to find so charming a situation for that purpose so near our town. Indeed, nature could have done but little more towards adding beauty or convenience to it, and the taste displayed in laying out the avenues and shrubbery reflects credit to the superintendent, W. H. Clark, Esq., and the committee who have given direction to the matter.

Among the more notable monuments are the following:

▪ George A. Boeckling - Fans of Cedar Point will most-assuredly wish to pay their respects to Mr. Boeckling whose farsightedness played a major role in making the park what it is today. Boeckling become the General Manager of the Cedar Point Pleasure Resort Co. in 1897, and it was under his direction that what was really little more than a lakeside picnic ground began to take shape as a place for amusement rides, dancing, concerts, swimming beaches and hotels. Were it not for Boeckling’s vision, it is doubtful Cedar point would be the award-winning amusement park it is today.

▪ Voltaire Scott - Mr. Scott was a hotelier and that is hardly noteworthy. We include him here for a quirky reason. You see, Scott added a park next to his business, The Porter House Hotel. This was, quite uncreatively, named Scott’s Park. In any case, the great “boast” of the park was a fountain, at the center of which was placed a statue depicting a young barefoot boy, pants hiked unevenly below the knees, left hand in pocket and right hand holding aloft a boot from whose toe, not surprisingly, water “leaked.” There are a number of stories about the inspiration for this statue, including the memorialization of a young Italian newspaper carrier who drowned while delivering the news, an American soldier boy who carried water to his fallen battle mates by using his damaged boot, and even a boy who heroically carried water in his leaky boot to help douse a fire. In any case, the statue was, for some unknown reason, the talk of the town until storm damage caused it to be removed. It was later restored and transferred to Sandusky’s City Hall where it still stands today. A bronze replica was placed in the city’s Washington Park some years later. Today, the fountain is included as a destination in Roadside America.

▪ Charles Shuck (1868 - 1896) - Said to be an artist with great potential in the area of watercolors, Shuck seemed to be on the verge of national acclaim even at the young age of 28; however, Fate had something else in mind. While celebrating the 4th of July with friends, Shuck volunteered to make up the difference in teams who were joining in a yacht race on Lake Erie. Tragically, a storm descended upon the racers mid-race: Schuck was thrown from his boat and drowned before rescue could be effected.

▪ Sarah & Eliza Moore - These spinster sisters hold the distinction of being memorialized with one of Oakland’s more striking monuments. The two were teachers at Sandusky High School and were beloved favorites of their students. In fact, it was through the monetary gifts of those students that the sister’s gravestone was purchased. It consists of a large granite base that supports a book, laid on its side. The top of the spine bears the engraved words: Born, Avon, NY. The bottom of the spine reads: Died, Sandusky, OH. The middle portion bears the family name. Atop this, an open book stands. The front cover is inscribed:ELIZA MOOREFEB’RY 17, 1817March 30, 1899

(The back reads:)SARAH J. MOOREApril 27, 1822March 13, 1890

Elsewhere on the grounds, the remains of a number of individuals active in the Underground Railroad, revel in their well-deserved rest.

Aside from the becoming grounds and monuments, Oakland boasts a gothic chapel and groundskeeper’s house, both of which were constructed in 1885. The chapel was restored in the 1970s and is meticulously maintained to this day.

Visitors should plan on at least two hours to stroll through and fully-appreciate these historic grounds.